Low power signal transmission

ABSTRACT

A low-power implant system. The system includes an implant for implantation into a person, such as a cochlear implant or a middle ear implant. The implant is capable of communicating with a device via transmission of ultra wideband pulses. The device may be adapted to be worn external to the person, or may be a second implant. So as to conserve battery power, the transmitted ultra wideband pulses may have a low duty cycle of approximately 1/1000 or less. Power savings may also be realized by using time-gating amplifiers in the implant and/or device receiver.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No.60/384,948, filed May 31, 2002, entitled “Low Power Signal TransmissionOver Short Distances”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to low power signal transmission overshort distances, which may be used, for example, in implanted devicessuch as a cochlear implant.

BACKGROUND ART

With implanted devices it may be necessary to transmit information tothe implant over a comparatively short distance during an extendedperiod of time.

An example for such an application is the transmission of speechinformation to a fully implanted cochlear implant 101 from an externaldevice 102, such as a microphone 103 and/or a processor 104 placedbehind the ear or in the ear canal, as shown in FIG. 1. Since thetransmitter 105, as well as the receiver 106, are powered from smallbatteries 107 and 108 contained in the external device 102 and in theimplant 101, respectively, both the power consumption of the transmitter105 as well as of the receiver 106 become limiting factors.

Another application could be the transfer of information betweenbilateral ear level microphones and/or processors used with hearing aidor cochlear implant applications. In these cases a comparison or acommon processing of left and right speech signals may be necessaryeither for beamforming or for coordinated processing schemes in ordernot to distort direction information.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cochlear implant transmission system typicallyincludes an Radio Frequency (RF) transmitter 105 that drives an externalcoil 109 with a modulated RF signal. This signal is picked up by areceiver's 106 implanted coil 110, which may be located at only a few mmor cm from the transmitter coil 109, and further processed by thereceiver 106. With conventional narrow band RF transmission schemesusing well known modulation methods for transmission of speech signalsof considerable dynamic range (e.g. 70-90 dB) either as an analog signalor a coded signal (e.g. PCM or encoded in a ΣΔ-modulator-data stream,typical band width 1 . . . 2 MHz), the power consumed either by thetransmitter 105 or by the receiver 106 (e.g. when using a very low powertransmitter delivering a very faint signal making a large RFamplification necessary), or both, may turn out to be prohibitive. Notethat the overwhelming percentage of the total power consumption resultsfrom the RF components at the transmitting and/or receiving end. Thepower consumption of processing in the baseband is negligible due to thelow speed power product of modern CMOS technology and the comparativelow frequencies of the baseband.

Very low power receivers may utilize, for example, diode rectifiers.However, the threshold voltage of the diode rectifier may be too large,even when using backward diodes for demodulation. Another very low powerreceiver is the superregenerative receiver, which does not havesufficient bandwidth for transmission of coded speech signals. Examplesof still other receivers include superheterodyne or the homodynereceivers, or a straight amplifier chain preceding a demodulator.However, in each of these cases the power consumption of the RFamplification is non-negligible. Depending on the transmitter powerselected, the relative proportion of transmitter power to receiver powermay be adapted to the respective battery capacity available. Forexample, a strong transmitted signal may require small or even noamplification at the receiver. However, total power consumption may betoo large in any event.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first embodiment of the invention there is provided a method andsystem for a low-power implant system. An implant, for implantation intoa person, is capable of communicating via transmission of ultra widebandpulses. A device is capable of communicating with the implant via ultrawideband pulse transmission.

In related embodiments, the implant and the device are capable of one ofunidirectional and bidirectional communication via ultra wideband pulsetransmission. The implant may be a cochlear implant or a middle earimplant. The device may be adapted to be worn external to the person,and include: a signal processor for processing an acoustic signal; and atransmitter capable of transmitting the pulses representative of theacoustic signal through the skin of the person to the implant. Theimplant may include at least one electrode and be capable of providingelectrical stimulation via the at least one electrode as a function ofthe acoustic signal received from the transmitter. The device may be asecond implant for implantation into the person. The implant and thedevice may communicate via ultra wideband pulses having: a duty cycle ofapproximately 1/1000 or less; a time duration of between 0.5 ns and 10ns; and/or a pulse repetition time between 5 and 100 us.

In still other related embodiments of the invention, the device includesone of a transmitter capable of transmitting ultra wideband pulses and areceiver capable of receiving ultra wideband pulses, and the implantincludes the other of the transmitter and the receiver. The receiver mayinclude a time-gated amplifier, the amplifier for amplifying the pulsesreceived from the transmitter. The time-gated amplifier may be turned onwhen a probability of receiving a pulse from the transmitter is greaterthan zero. The time-gated amplifier may be biased so as not to becompletely off when a probability of receiving a pulse from thetransmitter is zero. The time-gated amplifier may turn on periodicallyfor a time duration D, the turning on of the amplifier synchronized withpossible receipt of a pulse from the transmitter. The time-gatedamplifier may include a controller for synchronizing turning on of theamplifier during possible receipt of a pulse from the transmitter. Thecontroller may synchronize the gated amplifier with pulses received fromthe transmitter based on receipt of a pulse with a predefined amplitudeand/or duration. The amplifier may be a differential amplifer or apseudo-differential amplifier. The receiver may be a passive receiver.The transmitter and receiver may each include a coil or loop fortransmission between the transmitter and the receiver via inductivecoupling. The receiver may include a nonlinear electronic component forconverting RF components, transmitted via ultra wideband pulses, back tobaseband. The transmitter may directly transmit, via ultra widebandpulses, a baseband signal. The transmitter may transmit ultra widebandmonocycle pulses, thus eliminating low-frequency spectral components.Due to resonances of the transmitter and/or receiver antenna coilscertain high frequency components of the signal may become emphasized,thus producing damped RF bursts from each wideband pulse.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method and system for alow-power hearing system includes a first external signal processor forproviding information to one of a hearing aid and an implant. A secondexternal signal processor is capable of communicating with the firstexternal signal processor via ultra wideband pulses.

In related embodiments of the invention, the ultra wideband pulses mayhave: a duty cycle of 1/1000 or less; have a time duration of between0.5 ns and 10 ns; and/or have a pulse repetition time between 5 and 100μs. The first external processor and/or the second external processormay have a receiver for receiving the ultra-wideband pulses, thereceiver including a time-gated amplifier. The time-gated amplifier mayinclude a controller for synchronizing turning on of the receiver withpossible receipt of a ultra wideband pulse. The controller maysynchronize the gated amplifier with pulses received based on receipt ofa pulse with a predefined amplitude or duration.

In still another related embodiment, the first external signal processormay include a first microphone, and the second external signal processorinclude a second microphone. The first signal processor processes anacoustic signal present in a first ear of a user and the second signalprocessor processes an acoustic signal present in the second ear of theuser.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing features of the invention will be more readily understoodby reference to the following detailed description, taken with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a prior art system for transmittingacoustic information to a fully implantable cochlear implant from asignal processor placed behind the ear;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system thatincludes transmission of UWB pulses, in accordance with one embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system thatincludes transmission of UWB monocycle pulses, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system thatincludes low Q resonance, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system thatincludes an active receiver, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 shows a timing diagram detailing the timing of a gated receiverof a low-power implant system, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 7 shows a timing diagram detailing synchronization timing of agated receiver of a low-power implant system, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a gated amplifier for a low-powerimplant system, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a timing diagram detailing the timing associated with thegated amplifier depicted in FIG. 8, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a gated amplifier for a low-powerimplant system that receives monocycle pulses, in accordance with oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a rectifier for a gated amplifier, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system thatincludes duplex transmission, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 13 is a timing diagram detailing the timing of the low-powerimplant system of FIG. 12, in accordance with one embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

In illustrative embodiments of the invention, a system and method forlow power signal transmission between, for example, parts of a hearingsystem, is presented. The low power signal transmission is achieved bytransmitting very short ultra wideband (UWB) pulses. In variousembodiments, the transmitted UWB signals are representative of signalshaving a bandwidth not exceeding 1 or 2 MHz. The UWB pulses can thus betransmitted at a very small duty cycle, resulting in very lowtransmitter power consumption. Additional power savings are realized atthe receiver by using passive receivers or gated receivers which aresynchronized to the incoming UWB pulses. Details of illustrativeembodiments are discussed below.

Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology is a relatively new communicationtechnology that is fundamentally different from communication usingmodulated methodologies. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,031,862,entitled “Ultra-wideband Communication System and Method,” which isherein incorporated by reference. Rather than employing a carriersignal, UWB emissions are composed of a series of short, intermittentpulses having a pulse duration on the order of picoseconds ornanoseconds. By varying the pulses' amplitude, polarity, timing and/orother characteristic, information is coded into the data stream. Variousother terms have been used for the UWB transmission mode—carrierless,baseband, nonsinusoidal and impulse-based among them.

However, UWB has traditionally been used at high data transmissionrates. For example, UWB radios typically perform at well over 100 Mbps.Because UWB pulses are so short, high data rates can be achieved byspacing the pulses close together.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system 200 thatincludes transmission of UWB pulses, in accordance with one embodimentof the invention. The low-power implant system includes an implant 202for implantation into a person. The implant 202 may be, withoutlimitation, a cochlear implant, a brainstem implant, or a middle earimplant. Additionally, the low-power implant system 200 includes adevice 201 capable of communicating with the implantable portion 202 viatransmission of UWB pulses. The device may be may adapted to be wornexternal to the person, such as a signal processor for processingacoustic signals. Or the external device may be a more distant devicerelative to the person, such as an FM sound amplification device or a TVset. In still other embodiments, the device 201 may be another implant.Communication may be bi-directional, or uni-directional in eitherdirection.

The device 201 includes a timing circuit 211 that triggers a pulsegenerator 203. The pulse generator 203 generates a UWB pulse that istransmitted via a transmitter 204 to the implant 202. The implant 202includes a receiver 210 for receiving the transmitted UWB pulse. Boththe transmitter 204 and receiver 210 may include a coil or loop 205 and206, respectively, such that pulse transmission between the transmitter204 and the receiver 210 is via inductive coupling. In otherembodiments, transmission may be via electric dipoles, however their usemay prove to be problematic with regard to body tissue in closeproximity to the implant 202.

As described above, the implant may be a cochlear implant (inner earprostheses), in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.Cochlear implants are a means to help profoundly deaf or severelyhearing impaired persons. Unlike conventional hearing aids, which justapply an amplified and modified sound signal, a cochlear implant isbased on direct electrical stimulation of the acoustic nerve. Theintention of a cochlear implant is to stimulate nervous structures inthe inner ear electrically in such a way that hearing impressions mostsimilar to normal hearing are obtained.

The cochlear implant system essentially consists of two parts, anexternal device which acts as the speech processor and the implant whichacts as a stimulator. The speech processor receives and performs signalprocessing on an acoustic signal. The processed acoustic signal is thentransmitted to and received by the implant. The implant generates thestimulation patterns and conducts them to the nervous tissue by means ofan electrode array 111 (see FIG. 1) which usually is positioned in thescala tympani in the inner ear.

The processed acoustic signal transmitted is typically digitized/codedusing, for example, Σ-Δ modulation (other embodiments may use morecomplex signal coding, such as Pulse Code Modulation, and alsodifferentiate between pulses carrying signal information and pulsestransmitted for synchronization only), and may have a bandwidth ofapproximately 1-2 MHz (in certain embodiments, onlysignal-amplitude-derived control signals are transferred, allowing for abandwidth not exceeding a few kHz). This baseband signal may be used todirectly drive the transmitter 204 so as to transmit single-phasebaseband UWB pulses, as shown in FIG. 2.

Due to the low data rate, the resulting UWB pulses are transmitted at avery low duty cycle. Consequently, the transmitter 204 componentsconsume relatively little power. The pulses received at the receiver 210are detected, possibly amplified, and can be processed by conventionaldigital CMOS circuitry. A threshold to eliminate low level interferencesignal can be obtained, for example, by proper biasing of CMOS gates orby the use of a Schmitt-trigger circuit.

In various embodiments, the simple baseband detection scheme describedabove is replaced by more complex schemes using for example, nonlinearelement(s) with pre and/or post rectification amplifiers. For example,FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a low-power implant system 200 thatincludes transmission of UWB monocycle pulses. These pulses areadvantageous as they do not contain low-frequency spectral components.Low-frequency spectral components are inefficiently transmitted viaantennas and cause substantial ringing. A non-linear element 305rectifies and generates the base-band pulse from the RF signal, such as,without limitation, a diode, a backward diode, or a Schottky-diode.

The coils/loops of the transmitter 204 and receiver 210 together withadditional capacitance 405 or with stray capacitance may be utilized toprovide a comparatively low Q resonance, as shown in FIG. 4, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. The low Q resonance canbe used to enhance receiver input signals and thus improve transmission.Care must be taken to not unduly prolong transmission pulses. This couldlead to a reduction in data rate and power savings when certain types ofreceivers are implemented.

In various embodiments of the invention, a passive receiver can beutilized. The output pulses are further processed by digital CMOS-logic,including a trigger circuit to establish a reasonable threshold.Although passive receivers are easy to implement, a passive receiver isrelatively insensitive, and can be utilized only for distances withinthe range of, for example, several centimeters. For larger distances,the passive receiver requires that sufficient pulse amplitudes aregenerated by the UWB transmitter. Therefore, when only very lowtransmitter power is available and/or for greater distances, thereceiver must be more sensitive. This can be achieved by awideband-amplifier preceeding the detector. However, such an amplifieruses a disproportionately large supply of current. The resulting powerconsumption may well dominate the power consumption of the whole system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a receiver that utilizes anamplifier(s) to advantageously increase receiver sensitivity, inaccordance with one embodiment of the invention. An amplifier 509 mayprecede rectifier 305 (if needed). Alternatively, or in combination withamplifier 509, an amplifier 510 may follow rectifier 305.

To conserve power, the amplifier(s) 509 and/or 510 are time-gated so asto switch the amplifier(s) on only during short intervals when thelikelihood for reception of a signal pulse is not zero. Unliketraditional gating of receivers, which is done to improve signal tonoise ration and to block echoes arriving later than the direct signal,the emphasis here is to conserve power at the receiver. Gating of theamplifiers 509 and/or 510 may be accomplished by a controller 511, whichprovides an amplifier turn-on pulse that is synchronized with thetransmitted signal pulses.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary timing diagram that illustrates the timingrelationships between the data to be transmitted 601, the transmittedsignals 602, the amplifier turn-on pulse 603 generated by the controller511, and the receiver output signals 604. The transmitted signals aretransmitted at a rate 1/T, with a pulse transmitted depending on whetherthe data to be transmitted is a logic 1 or 0. The amplifier turn-onpulses are synchronized with the possible receipt of pulses transmittedby the transmitter. A transmitted pulse received during activation of aturn-on pulse will be detected and seen at the receiver output 604,while pulses received while the turn-on pulse is inactive have no effecton receiver output 604.

A timing diagram detailing synchronization of the amplifier turn-onpulse 701 with possible receipt of transmitter pulses 700 is shown inFIG. 7, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Initially,the amplifier turn-on pulses 701 are activated at a periodic rate of1/T, with each turn on-pulse 701 having a time duration d. At thebeginning of a transmission, the transmitter transmits a pulse havingduration slightly longer than T. The receiver receive at least a part ofthis long pulse while the turn-on pulse 701 is activated, and willrecognize that a pulse has been received having a duration longer thand. This triggers the controller to keep the amplifier turn-on pulse 701active until the end of the transmitted long pulse. This is the eventwhich causes the controller to reset and synchronize the amplifierturn-pulse 701 with the possible receipt of transmitter pulses 700.After the time T, the controller will activate the turn-on pulse 701 soto receive the first possible signal pulse of the transmission. Once thecontroller has established synchronization between the turn-on pulse 701and transmitted pulses 700, the controller will maintain synchronizationfor the duration of the transmission using, without limitation, a phaselocked loop or a resettable timing generator, which may be synchronizedby each received pulse (if no pulse is received, the controller mayl runfree until synchronized by the next correctly received pulse). Receiveroutput 703 is as described above with regard to FIG. 6.

Other synchronization methodologies may be utilized. For example, thetransmitter may transmit an extra strong pulse which is received evenwhen the amplifier(s) are in low power mode (i.e. when the turn-on pulseis inactive), in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Theextra strong pulse forces the controller to synchronize the turn-onpulse with possible receipt of transmitted pulses. In this embodiment,the amplifier(s) is not turned completely off when the turn on pulse isinactive. Instead, a small quiescent current is maintained such that theextra strong pulse can be recognized by the receiver.

In preferred embodiments, the pre and post rectification amplifiers aredifferential amplifiers or pseudo-differential amplifiers. This preventsthe turn-on pulse (which is applied common mode) from reaching apredetermined pulse detection threshold. Although there will be someunavoidable feed through due to transistor tolerances, only transmittedsignal pulses, which occur when the turn-on pulse is active, will bedetected.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 8 and 9 show aschematic diagram and an associated timing diagram for a gated amplifier801, respectively. CMOS-technology is used. T₁ . . . T₃ are n-channelMOS-transistors, and T₄ . . . T₆ are p-channel transistors. T₁, T₂, T₅and T₆ form a pseudo-differential amplifier. T₃ and T₄ are part of thebiasing circuitry and are used to turn on the amplifier to make thereceiver receptive for the transmitted UWB pulses.

“Diode-connected” transistor T₃ is slightly forward biased by the smallcurrent defined by R_(Q) and the supply voltage V_(D). Since the gatesof T₁, T₂ and T₃ are connected; T₂ and T₃ see the same gate voltage andtherefore carry the identical small quiescent dc-currents. The wellknown current mirror formed by T₅ and T₆ generates a drain current at T₆which ideally is equal to the drain current of T₁. The quiescent outputvoltage is defined by the relative output resistances of T₁ and T₆. Tomake the amplifier more independent of transistor parameter tolerances,external resistors R₁ and R₂ may be added.

To obtain significant amplification, larger drain currents are needed.Therefore, to turn the amplifier 801 on, a turn-on pulse 901 is appliedto T₄. The current through R_(set) enhances the forward biasing of T₃and consequently enlarges all currents to an appropriate level.Activation of the turn-on pulse without receipt of a transmitted pulsemust result in an output voltage 903 smaller than the threshold of thedecision circuit following the amplifier. However, when a pulse 902 isreceived during activation of the turn-on pulse 901, the voltage beinginduced in the antenna loop/coil will cause a change in the gate voltageof T1. This, in turn, causes a change in T1's drain current that resultsin an output voltage 903 that is sufficient to trigger the decisioncircuit.

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 10 is aschematic diagram of a pseudo-differential amplifier for a receiver thatreceives monocycle pulses or short RF-bursts, as shown in FIG. 5. Thereceiver antenna loop/coil forms a low Q resonance with capacitor C₁,which at least partly consists of stray capacitance. Capacitor C₂prevents the gate voltage of T₁ from being shorted by the antenna loop.In principle the function of this circuit is equivalent to the circuitdescribed in FIG. 8. The main difference is that, in order to makeefficient use of the RF components of the received spectrum, the biasingmust ensure that T₁ is driven in a sufficiently nonlinear part of itstransfer characteristic so that some rectification of RF components isachieved. Resistors R₃ and R₄ connect the gates of T₁ and T₂ to T₃without disturbing the RF signal.

Rectification of RF components may also be accomplished by the circuitshown in FIG. 11, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.Here, an extra diode D is used for the rectification of RF components ofthe received pulse.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary duplex low-power implantsystem between a first transceiver 1200 and a second transceiver 1220,in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. Each transceiver1200 and 1220 includes a transmitter 1202 and 1222 and a receiver 1203and 1223 that share the same loop/coil 1216 and 1236, respectively.Additionally, each transmitter 1202 and 1222 includes a clock generatingcircuit 1206 and 1226 and a UWB pulse generator 1208 and 1228,respectively; and each receiver 1203 and 1223 includes apre-rectification amplifier 1210 and 1230, a rectifying diode 1212 and1232, and a post-rectification amplifier 1214 and 1234, respectively.FIG. 13 is a timing diagram detailing the timing for the duplextransmission scheme shown in the embodiment of FIG. 12.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the first transceiver (“master”) 1200 setsthe timing for the transmission of signals in both directions. Thesecond transceiver's 1220 timing (“slave”) can be locked to the receivedtransmission pulses by controller 1230 logic generating turn-on pulses1302 as described above, for example, with regard to FIG. 7.

In order to use the same inductive link for both directions, the pulses1301 transmitted by the first transmitter 1202 and the pulses 1303transmitted by second transmitter 1222 are interleaved. To achieve thisoffset Δ (e.g. Δ=T/2) a delay circuit 1224 is introduced in the secondtransceiver 1220 to delay the pulses 1303 generated by secondtransmitter 1222 by T/2. Similar delay circuitry 1204 is utilized in thefirst transceiver 1200 to appropriately delay the gating (turn-on pulse)1304 of the receiver 1203 associated with the first transceiver 1200.Since all signals are derived from the pulses 1301 generated by thefirst transmitter 1202, no controller logic for providingsynchronization is needed in the first transceiver 1200.

The low bandwidth of the signals transmitted to and/or from the implantallows the UWB pulses to be transmitted at a very low duty cycle,conserving power at the transmitter. Time-gating the amplifiers in theimplant and/or device receiver also conserves power at the receiver.Approximate parameter ranges of a typical hearing system that includescommunication via UWB pulses transmissions are, without limitation:Pulse duration (of transmitter UWB-pulse) τ 1 . . . 10 nsec Pulserepetition time T 1 . . . 10 μsec “turn-on pulse” duration d 5 . . . 100μsec duty factor of transmission pulse τ/T approx. 1:1000 duty factor ofreceiver gating d/T approx. 1:100 delay between forward and backward Δe.g. T/2 (see FIG. 13) transmission pulses in a duplex arrangement

In accordance with another embodiment of the invention, a low-powerhearing system may include UWB communication between parts external tothe person. For example, data can be transferred, in a manner similar tothe above-described embodiments, between a plurality of externaldevices, such as bilateral microphones and/or external signal processorsthat are positioned, for example, behind each ear or other variouslocations. The external device(s) can thus perform acoustic beamformingor other coordinated schemes. The external devices may be used, forexample, in conjunction with a hearing aid and/or an implant.

Although various exemplary embodiments of the invention have beendisclosed, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications can be made which will achieve some ofthe advantages of the invention without departing from the true scope ofthe invention. These and other obvious modifications are intended to becovered by the appended claims.

1. A low-power implant system comprising: an implant for implantationinto a person, the implant capable of communicating via transmission ofultra wideband pulses; and a device capable of communicating with theimplant via ultra wideband pulse transmission.
 2. The low-power implantsystem according to claim 1, wherein the implant and the device arecapable of one of unidirectional and bidirectional communication viaultra wideband pulse transmission.
 3. The low-power implant systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the implant is a cochlear implant.
 4. Thelow-power implant system according to claim 1, wherein the implant is amiddle ear implant.
 5. The low-power implant system according to claim1, wherein the device is adapted to be worn external to the person, thedevice including a signal processor for processing an acoustic signal,and a transmitter capable of transmitting the pulses representative ofthe acoustic signal through the skin of the person to the implant. 6.The low-power implant system according to claim 5, wherein the implantincludes at least one electrode and is capable of providing electricalstimulation via the at least one electrode as a function of the acousticsignal received from the transmitter.
 7. The low-power implant systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the device is a second implant forimplantation into the person.
 8. The low-power implant system accordingto claim 1, wherein the implant and the device communicate via ultrawideband pulses having a duty cycle of approximately 1/1000 or less. 9.The low-power implant system according to claim 1, wherein the implantand the device communicate via ultra wideband pulses that have a timeduration of between 0.5 ns and 10 ns.
 10. The low-power implant systemaccording to claim 1, wherein the implant and the device communicate viaultra wideband pulses at a pulse repetition time between 5 and 100 μs.11. The low-power implant system according to claim 1, wherein thedevice includes one of a transmitter capable of transmitting ultrawideband pulses and a receiver capable of receiving ultra widebandpulses, and wherein the implant includes the other of the transmitterand the receiver.
 12. The low-power implant system according to claim11, wherein the receiver includes a time-gated amplifier, the amplifierfor amplifying the pulses received from the transmitter.
 13. Thelow-power implant system according to claim 12, wherein the time-gatedamplifier is turned on when a probability of receiving a pulse from thetransmitter is greater than zero.
 14. The low-power implant systemaccording to claim 12, wherein the time-gated amplifier is biased so asnot to be completely off when a probability of receiving a pulse fromthe transmitter is zero.
 15. The low-power implant system according toclaim 12, wherein the time-gated amplifier turns on periodically for atime duration D, the turning on of the amplifier synchronized withpossible receipt of a pulse from the transmitter.
 16. The low-powerimplant system according to claim 12, wherein the time-gated amplifierincludes a controller for synchronizing turning on of the amplifierduring possible receipt of a pulse from the transmitter.
 17. Thelow-power implant system according to claim 16, wherein the controllersynchronizes the gated amplifier with pulses received from thetransmitter based on receipt of a pulse with a predefined amplitude. 18.The low-power implant system according to claim 16, wherein thecontroller synchronizes the gated amplifier with pulses received fromthe transmitter based on receipt of a pulse of a predefined duration.19. The low-power implant system according to claim 12, wherein theamplifier is one of a differential amplifer and a pseudo-differentialamplifier.
 20. The low-power implant system according to claim 11,wherein the receiver is a passive receiver.
 21. The low power implantsystem according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter includes a primarycoil of wire and the receiver includes a secondary coil of wire, andwherein transmission between the transmitter and the receiver is viainductive coupling between the primary coil and the secondary coil. 22.The low power implant system according to claim 11, wherein thetransmitter includes a primary loop antenna and the receiver includes asecondary loop antenna, and wherein transmission between the transmitterand the receiver is via inductive coupling between the primary loopantenna and the secondary loop antenna.
 23. The low-power implant systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the receiver includes a nonlinearelectronic component for converting RF components, transmitted via ultrawideband pulses, back to baseband.
 24. The low-power implant systemaccording to claim 11, wherein the transmitter directly transmits, viaultrawide band pulses, a baseband signal.
 25. The low-power implantsystem according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter transmits ultrawideband monocycle pulses so as to eliminate low-frequency spectralcomponents.
 26. The low-power implant system according to claim 1,wherein the implant and/or the device includes a battery.
 27. Alow-power hearing system comprising: a first external signal processorfor providing information to one of a hearing aid and an implant; and asecond external signal processor; the second external signal processorcapable of communicating with the first external signal processor viaultra wideband pulses.
 28. The low-power hearing system according toclaim 27, wherein the ultra wideband pulses have a duty cycle of 1/1000or less.
 29. The low-power hearing system according to claim 27, whereinthe ultra wideband pulses have a time duration of between 0.5 ns and 10ns.
 30. The low-power hearing system according to claim 27, wherein theultra wideband pulses have a pulse repetition time between 5 and 100 μs.31. The low-power hearing system according to claim 27, wherein thefirst external processor and/or the second external processor have areceiver for receiving the ultra-wideband pulses, the receiver includinga time-gated amplifier.
 32. The low-power hearing system according toclaim 27, wherein the time-gated amplifier includes a controller forsynchronizing turning on of the receiver with possible receipt of aultra wideband pulse.
 33. The low-power hearing system according toclaim 27, wherein the controller synchronizes the gated amplifier withpulses received based on receipt of a pulse with a predefined amplitude.34. The low-power hearing system according to claim 27, wherein thecontroller synchronizes the gated amplifier with pulses received basedon receipt of a pulse of a predefined duration.
 35. The low-powerhearing system according to claim 27 wherein the first external signalprocessor includes a first microphone, and the second external signalprocessor includes a second microphone, the first signal processor forprocessing an acoustic signal present in a first ear of a user and thesecond signal processor for processing an acoustic signal present in thesecond ear of the user.
 36. A method of transferring information betweena device and an implant implanted in a person, the method comprising:transmitting, from one of the device and the implant, ultra widebandpulses representative of information; and receiving, at the other of thedevice and the implant, the ultra wideband pulses.
 37. The methodaccording to claim 36, wherein the device is a signal processor externalto the person, and wherein transmitting includes transcutaneouslytransmitting ultra wideband pulses from the signal processor.
 38. Themethod according to claim 37, wherein transmitting includes: processingat the signal processor an acoustic signal; and transcutaneouslytransmitting ultra wideband pulses representative of the acoustic signalfrom the signal processor to the implant.
 39. The method according toclaim 38, wherein the implant is a cochlear implant that includes atleast one electrode, the method further comprising electricallystimulating the at least one electrode as a function of the acousticsignal.
 40. The method according to claim 36, wherein the device is asecond implant.
 41. The method according to claim 36, whereintransmitting includes transmitting ultra wideband pulses at a duty cycleof approximately 1/1000 or less.
 42. The method according to claim 36,wherein transmitting includes transmitting ultra wideband pulses havinga time duration of between 0.5 ns and 10 ns.
 43. The method according toclaim 36, wherein transmitting includes transmitting pulses at a pulserepetition time between 5 and 100 μs.
 44. The method according to claim36, wherein receiving includes amplifying the ultra wideband pulses, theamplifying being time-gated.
 45. The method according to claim 44,wherein the amplifying is performed prior to rectification of the ultrawideband pulses.
 46. The method according to claim 44, wherein theamplifying is performed after rectification of the ultra widebandpulses.
 47. The method according to claim 44, wherein the amplifyingincludes turning on an amplifier when a probability of receiving a pulsefrom the device is greater than zero.
 48. The method according to claim44, wherein the amplifying includes biasing the amplifier so as not tobe completely off when a probability of receiving a pulse from thedevice is zero.
 49. The method according to claim 44, further comprisingsynchronizing turning on of the amplifier with possible receipt oftransmitted pulses based on receipt of a pulse with a predefinedamplitude.
 50. The method according to claim 44, further comprisingsynchronizing turning on of the amplifier with possible receipt oftransmitted pulses based on receipt of a pulse with a predefinedduration.
 51. The method according to claim 36, wherein the deviceincludes a primary coil and the implant includes a secondary coil, andwherein transmitting includes inductively coupling the primary coil andthe secondary coil.
 52. The method according to claim 36, wherein thedevice includes a primary loop and the implant includes a secondaryloop, and wherein transmitting includes inductively coupling the primaryloop and the secondary loop.
 53. A method of low-power communication fora hearing system, the method comprising: providing a first externalsignal processor that communicates with one of a hearing aid and acochlear implant; and providing a second external signal processor;transmitting ultra wideband pulses between the first external signalprocessor and the second external signal processor.
 54. The methodaccording to claim 53, wherein transmitting includes transmitting ultrawideband pulses at a duty cycle of approximately 1/1000 or less.
 55. Themethod according to claim 53, wherein transmitting includes transmittingultra wideband pulses having a time duration of between 0.5 ns and 10ns.
 56. The method according to claim 53, wherein transmitting includestransmitting pulses at a pulse repetition time between 5 and 100 μs. 57.The method according to claim 53, further comprising receiving thepulses at one of the first external signal processor and the secondexternal signal processor, wherein the receiving includes amplifying theultra wideband pulses, the amplifying being time-gated.
 58. The methodaccording to claim 57, wherein the amplifying includes turning on anamplifier when a probability of receiving a pulse from the device isgreater than zero.
 59. The method according to claim 58, wherein theamplifying includes biasing the amplifier so as not to be completely offwhen a probability of receiving a pulse from the device is zero.
 60. Themethod according to claim 57, further comprising synchronizing theturning on of the amplifier with possible receipt of transmitted pulsesbased on receipt of a pulse with a predefined amplitude.
 61. The methodaccording to claim 57, further comprising synchronizing the turning onof the amplifier with possible receipt of transmitted pulses based onreceipt of a pulse with a predefined duration.
 62. The method accordingto claim 57, wherein the first external signal processor includes amicrophone and the second external signal processor includes a secondmicrophone, the method further including: processing, at the firstexternal signal processor, an acoustic signal present in a first ear ofa user; processing, at the second external signal processor, an acousticsignal present in a second ear of a user; and transmitting from thesecond external signal processor, ultra wideband pulses representativeof the acoustic signal present in the second ear of the user, to thefirst external external signal processor.